Where to stop along 95?

[Gales4Goofy]

Will be driving from Philly to WDW Oct 16-17. We'll probably log about 12 hours the first day....we're thinking that will put us somewhere in NC or SC. Anyone know of a good place for 5 weary (or is that wary) travellers to crash for the night along 95 in that general area?

 

[Luvdisney]

We stayed in a Jameson Inn the last time we drove down. They have them all along 95, you may want to look on there website and find one along your route. Very clean and included breafast in the morning. I think I paid like $45.00 for a night for the 4 of us.

 

[Gales4Goofy]

they sound like a winner....thank you!!!

 

[Barb A.]

We also drive from Philly suburbs and usually do 12 hours. That usually gets us to Savannah, GA. Last 2 times we stayed at the La Quinta. It was clean and we only paid $54 nite and included continental breakfast. I think they even had make-your-own waffles. We stop for breakfast and pack lunch so we don't have to stop and waste that time. Otherwise, we only stop for bathroom breaks and gas.

 

[melanie18]

I second the vote for Savannah, GA (we live in central NJ). The next day's drive will only be about 5-6 hours.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Agree--even with the usual stops you ought to be near Savannah.
WE leave Glen Rock at 4:00 AM and by 5:00 PM (with a stop for a full breakfast and severl gas/rest stops) we're in Brunswick Ga--where we always stay at the Hampton Inn

 

[Barb A.]

We always try to put in the long day on the first day of driving. That allows us to sleep in a tiny bit longer on the second day since we only have 6 or so hours left to drive. It makes that second day a little less hectic. We usually leave home a 5 a.m. and stop anywhere between 5-6 p.m. which is good because at that time you're ahead of the crowd and the restaurants haven't gotten too crowded for dinner yet. It's kind of a tradition that we always eat at Cracker Barrel on the way down at Savannah!!!

 

[Gales4Goofy]

It definitely sounds like the Savannah area is a good stopping point. Thanks everyone -- I didn't think we'd be able to get that far but from your experiences it sounds very do-able!

 

[Gales4Goofy]

Well, we're doing it again! We drove down in '04, stopping in Kingsland, GA. Its just 5 min north of the GA/FL border. We stayed at the Hampton Inn and had a very good night. Then, a short drive for day 2.

This time, due to our hectic schedules, we're leaving after school on Friday 12/21 and planning to drive about 8 hours the first day/evening. I THINK that puts us someplace in northern/central North Carolina. Has anyone else out there done something similar? Is there a place you would recommend 8 or 9 hours south of Philly?

Thanks all -- you've never led us astray before!

 

[MulanMom]

Well, we're doing it again! We drove down in '04, stopping in Kingsland, GA. Its just 5 min north of the GA/FL border. We stayed at the Hampton Inn and had a very good night. Then, a short drive for day 2.

This time, due to our hectic schedules, we're leaving after school on Friday 12/21 and planning to drive about 8 hours the first day/evening. I THINK that puts us someplace in northern/central North Carolina. Has anyone else out there done something similar? Is there a place you would recommend 8 or 9 hours south of Philly?

Thanks all -- you've never led us astray before!

We stop along 95 at Wilson, NC. There's an exit that has a number of hotels, most relatively new, including a Jameson Inn. I don't have the exit number handy, but it is along alt. 264 and a few miles north of the interchanges with regular 264. From the Lehigh Valley, we usually get there within 7 hours, but that's with avoiding rush hour along the major cities, especially Washington.

HTH!

 

[jennypenny]

Leaving after school on the friday before christmas will be a CRUSHING drive around D.C. I know this for certain. DH works there/we live in Yardley (around the corner from you) and do the trip all the time.

Normally I would suggest heading out the turnpike and south on 81 but getting by King of Prussia will be just as bad that night. If you left by noon you might miss the traffic. Otherwise brace yourself and stop for a restroom after Baltimore/before DC. The backup down 95 in VA could be 30 miles that night.

Maybe you could get to 81 without going through King of Prussia?? I still think it might be worth it to head out that way and take 81 even with the K of P traffic (and plan on some in lancaster). We always drive down 95 but that night will be really tough.

Have you considered leaving VERY early Sat morning?

 

[Ham Ham]

Good advice about avoiding heavy traffic areas. any big city around rsuh hour is not too pleasant.

As posted before, Savannah, GA or Brunswick, GA provide easy drives to WDW the next day.

Be a shame to stop in Savannah and not have a visit to see the town. I've read on the disboards that it is quite pretty.

 

[ducklite]

From Philly, Richmond Hill, GA is about 12 hours. Very manageable in one day. There's a nice Hampton Inn there, safe, secure, very clean and a decent free breakfast. From that point it's about five hours to WDW--a very manageable drive to get there and still have plenty of park time.

DH makes that drive every other month, and usually drives straight through. But if the traffic is really heavy or the weather is bad He'll stop at either the Hampton in Rocky Mount, NC, or the Hampton in Richmond Hill.

 

[Gales4Goofy]

Leaving after school on the friday before christmas will be a CRUSHING drive around D.C. I know this for certain. DH works there/we live in Yardley (around the corner from you) and do the trip all the time.


Have you considered leaving VERY early Sat morning?

I know...we're doing just about the worst thing possible. In the past we've left at 3am or 4am and it worked very well. However, for this trip we'll be spending 3 days over Christmas with DW's mom at her house in southern FLA before we head north to Disney for a few days. We really want to get to her place by late Saturday in order to be able to spend the entire day on Sunday with her family.

Taking 81 sounds interesting. How would far down would you go that way? Cut over 64 into Richmond? It seems out of the way, but if it avoids that mess that tends to occur in Maryland and northern VA, it might be worth trying.

I might have to bite the bullet and take an extra day off school and work on Friday 12/21 in order to leave at 3-4AM.....just trying to avoid it if I can.

You all are really giving me food for thought. Thanks.

 

[jennypenny]

You have to do what you have to do. Our kids are done with school at noon on the friday before President's weekend, so that's when we're heading down--right into Daytona traffic. But that's when we can go. We have ressies at Biergarten for dinner on Saturday and I will definitely need that liter of beer.

If I were taking 81 I'd go all the way and come down 75 into WDW. Just remember you'll go through the blue ridge mountains. Beautiful, but tough in bad weather. You might have to factor that in.

 

[Gales4Goofy]

LOL! Oh yeah...call ahead and have a liter waiting for you! Best of luck with your trip. Hope everyone has a great time.